MUMBAI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 31 said he is willing to forgive students who hurled expletives at him during nationwide protests triggered by a leaked national exam, arguing that punishment and repeated court appearances would not help heal the crisis.
The unrest peaked in July after exam paper leaks forced a retest for about two million students, sparking anger over limited opportunities for young Indians. Authorities filed cases against hundreds of demonstrators after clashes with security forces and incidents of protesters shouting abusive slogans at the prime minister.
“These are misled children,” Modi said in a video posted on social media. “Showing them the right path is our duty. Punishing them, making them run around courts, or tormenting them in society will not change the situation. I want to forgive them. I hope society also accepts this stance of mine.”
Protests, organised in part by the self-styled Cockroach Janta Party, saw tense confrontations in multiple cities, including attempts to march on Parliament where demonstrators were met with tear gas and baton charges. The movement wound down after the education minister resigned and the government agreed to protesters’ demands, including reforms to the exam system and dropping police cases.
Meanwhile, the government has moved to strengthen penalties for exam paper leaks, introducing a bill that would increase fines and impose longer prison terms for those involved.